The Washington critic., 1887-03-01

to Mt. Vernon and far over the virginia
hills. The building Is IN tho italian Rennis-
sance. II Is 5G7 feet long and 3t3 feet wide.
Its greatest height Is lss feet, and tho nag
floating over the central portion, lla'nts "a
the city. not excepting those above the
Senate and House of Representatives. The
cost Of the building was five millions OF dol.
lars, about three. times as mnch as tho
White House, and, we think, as much as
the Capitol.
Department or Justice.
Immediately north Of the Treasury building
and Just across tho street Is the Depart
ment S U 3nstlcc Tbs building was origin
square In which II Is erected Is q historic
stands Riggs, Bank, which was built for the
OF tho old United States Bank. The greater
part Of II is now occupied by the clerks Of
the surgeonG General's ONCE. Around the
erals ONCE, formerly the old washington
Club House, In front of which Philip Barton
Key was shot by slckles.. The tree, under
whcah, the ,,sS dead mans 6dy sy Is still
pletely removed by relic hunters. At the
northwest corner OF the square, above the
Commissary. Generals Office, Is tho house
aos ad Sd ns Sse Do asasos
lived and reimcd so long social Queen
after her husbands term as President ex-
pired.
The Washington Monument.
Immediately south Of the white House stands
the Washington. Monument, the loftiest
structure erected by man, and the most i'm
posing obellsk ever constructed. IL Is b5o
feet above its base, which Is aa feet above
Z, 1Sfs, and the cap.stone, forming tho apex,
was placed In position December o. 1891. In
II are 1si blocks OF Inserted stones or cop
eflf fla .I.. ,NrlA .xtI
cietIes. The total cost will be over si,350-
000. II Is situated In what will ultimately
be beautiful park.
The Naval observatory.
To the West Of the Washington Monument,
on the highest elevation that borders tho
beth's Heights and Georgetown College,
stands the Naval Observatory. The hill on
which II stands Is famous for having been
the camping ground of Washington, Brad
dock. and the latter's army, when on their
march to the fatal field, where the English
General fell victim to his self.concelt and
vanity. Tradition also points out this hill
as the decisive battle ground between the
District Indians and the mysterious Susque
hannas. This. observatory contains the
neNt to tbe new ,s, bat fST ths
Lick Observatory. by its aid that most in
teresting, Y not greatest, astronomical dis
covery Of the country was made, the moons
Of Mars. The entrance to the observatory
is at Il and Twenty third streets northwest.
The Ilerdic cabs 60 to Twoniy.second and
& streets.
The Agricultural Department..
This building is situated east of the Monu-
ment, IL Is enclosed by tho most beautiful
and glowing flower garden in the country
and the grounds contain the most complete
Arboretum probably In the United States.
Attached to this Department are the Ex.
perimental Gardens, whose Offices arc i'm.
mediatcly west Of the main building The
Belt Line cars 20 right past the grounds.
The Smithsonian.
Across Twelfth street, Immediately east from
the Agricultural Department, are the
Smithsonian Institution and the Snithso.
nian Grounds. The former Is q specimen OF
the. most graceful architecture In the city,
and. the latter form the most beautiful
landscape garden In tho country. These
grounds Of themselves are worth a visit to
Washington to see. They contain tho
memorial hrn to the artist who designed
bronze statue OF Professor Henry. the first
secretary Of the institution. The latter Is
at the northwest corner Of the building; the
The Smithsonian Is filed with the most
varied and interesting objects connected
with science. II Is reached by the Seventh
Street, the Ninth Street and the Belt Line
Of street cars.
The National Museum.
The National Museum is In the Smithsonian
grounds, q few yards east of the Smithso-
nian building; II contains thousands Of the
life, customs and history Of all nations. II,
as well as the Smithsonian, Is open daily to
the public from a. m. to 4 p. m.
The Botanical Gardens.
Passing eastward from tho Museum, over
the railroad bridge that spans Sixth street,
Maine and Missouri avenues. the visitor
comes to the entrance on Third street, Just
south Of Pennsylvania avenue, OF the Bo-
are open daily from in the morning to
In the evening. They were established
30 years ago.. The conservatories arc flled
with the choicest and rarest foreign plants.
Around the gardens are extensive collec-
tions of trees and shrubs. In the centre OF
the lawn facing the centre conservatory Is
tho famous Bartholdl Fountain that at
tracted so much attention at the Phlladel-
phia Centennial
The Peace Monument.
Just half way across the Avenue from the
northeast angle of the Botanical Garden.
And at the west foot of the Capitol Grounds
signed by Admiral Porter In honor Of the
dead soldiers and sailors of the late war.
II Is of marble and cost, with pedestral and
platform $4,000. 1t Is proposed to remove
THIS monument to one OF the squares on the
northwest section.
Retracing our steps we find
The Printing nnd Engraving Bureau
The great money mill OF the Government Is
located at the corner OF Fourteenth and B
street southwest, southeast from the Monu-
ment and southwest from the Agriculture
Bureau. 1t Is reached by the Belt Line
Cars, and Is opened to visitors every day.
Davy BURNS Cottage.
One of the cuiiositles of Washington Is old
Dayy Burns Cottage, on seventeenth street,
near the river. II may be reached by the
drive south of the Presidents House or by
the Metropolitan or Avenue line of cars.
Next door to Il is General Van Ness once
stately mansion, where he brought his
bride, Marcia burns, one Of the original
hciresses of Washington.
C0rcOran Art Gallery.
| The Corcoran Art Gallery Is AZ the corner Of
Pennsylvania avenue and Seventeenth
street, opposite the War, Navy and State
Department. II Is open Tuesdays, Thurs
days and Saturdays free; on other days lex
cept Sundays a small admission fee is
charged. This gallery although not to be
compared with the great Old World gal
leries, Is nevertheless very creditable In
| stitution for so new country as the United
States. II contains among other original
objects, Powers great statue Of the Greek
Slave"
The Louise Home.